PROJECT TIMELINE

The City of Lowell submitted a successful statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for Lowell High School in April 2014. The City was invited by the MSBA in November 2015 to conduct a Feasibility Study.

The Preliminary Design Program (PDP) began in July 2016 and submission was made to the MSBA in February 2017.

On December 7, 2017 representatives from the City of Lowell met with officials from the MSBA to discuss necessary steps to change the preferred option submitted in the initial preferred schematic report. Per MSBA direction, the City Council voted to change the preferred option to the downtown site at the January 2, 2018 Council meeting.

On January 5, 2018 City Manager Kevin Murphy submitted a request to change the City’s preferred option to a downtown location.

On February 2, 2018 the MSBA hosted a working meeting with City of Lowell elected officials and representatives to discuss options to be investigated, pool, schedule, feasibility study budget and communication plan between the MSBA and the City. The MSBA gave a definitive answer that a pool is not reimbursable under their program.

The School Building Committee (SBC) held a meeting on Monday February 12, 2018 at 6:30 PM to discuss new appointments, review of the February MSBA meeting, proposed options, eminent domain and schedule. The SBC voted to explore Add/Reno option 2A, Add/ Reno option 3A expanded site, and New School on expanded site. While the MSBA initially targeted January 2019 for eminent domain action in order to complete necessary work for the revised PSR. Perkins Eastman recommended that the eminent domain schedule be addressed no later than July 2018. The City of Lowell may need to access the dentist parcel to conduct soil testing.
The Preliminary Design Program (PDP) began in July 2016 and submission was made to the MSBA in February 2017. A revised PDP was submitted to the MSBA with a preferred option 3A on the expanded site downtown.

On June 27, 2018, the MSBA voted to approve the City of Lowell to proceed into schematic design for an addition and renovation project at the Lowell High School, contingent upon the City gaining full ownership, control and exclusive use of the entire site, including the adjacent property by eminent domain.

The initial schedule proposed by Perkins Eastman is a schematic design submission to MSBA on July 11, 2018 for an August Board of Directors meeting. The SBC strongly urged Perkins Eastman to target a June 2018 Board of Directors meeting. Perkins Eastman agreed to make every effort to target the June meeting. Removing the New School on the expanded site option will help to expedite the schedule. As a result, the City Manager, Perkins Eastman, and Skanska requested that the MSBA allow the City to forgo exploration of the New School on the expanded site.

On June 27, 2018, the MSBA voted to approve the City of Lowell to proceed into schematic design for an addition and renovation project at the Lowell High School, contingent upon the City gaining full ownership, control and exclusive use of the entire site, including the adjacent property by eminent domain.

Disclaimer: As with every construction project, the scope, design, schedule, and costs are all subject to change as the project progresses. This website contains planning and design materials which reflect a fluid work-in-progress and an ever-evolving design that should not be construed to be “final” as they are subject to modification.